James J. Shuttleworth

For his significant contributions as an inventor, entrepreneur, and
businessman, the Purdue University Schools of Engineering are
proud to present the Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award to James
J. Shuttleworth.

From his Purdue years to present

After graduation from Purdue, Mr. Shuttleworth returned to Huntington, Indiana,
where he began working for his family's canning and machinery company.
In 1962 he purchased the machinery side of the business, and for several years
served as engineer, salesman, and president for the firm, whose primary
products at the time were canning and packaging equipment. Since then, the
company, which became Shuttleworth Incorporated in 1974, has grown to become
an international manufacturer of advanced, automated, and custom-engineered
conveyor and material handling systems. IN addition to the Huntington plant,
the firm now has manufacturing sites in Yokohama, Japan, and Athy, Ireland,
as well as a sales office in Gent, Belgium. The firm's customers include
many Fortune 500 companies, such as Digital Equipment Company and Sun
Microsystems, Incorporated, as well as Standard Telephone and
Communications (U.K.).

"As a kid I was fascinated with making things and I was always interested
in designing," says Mr. Shuttleworth. "It's been in my travels outside of
Indiana and the U.S. that I've really learned to appreciate Purdue. When you
live in Indiana and you're interested in engineering, you say nonchalantly
`I guess I'll go to Purdue.' Then after you graduate and learn the
reputation the school has outside the state and the country, you realize,
`Hey, Purdue was a pretty good place to go.'

"One of the most important aspects of my Purdue education was that I got to
meet, for the first time, people from all over the world--people with
different perspectives. Specifically, I think that's helped me with our
company's work overseas."

His advice to the graduating engineer:

"Keep an open mind. Don't forget formulas, but keep asking questions.
Remember to work with other people, appreciate their perspectives."